:00:26. > :00:31.Good afternoon and welcome to AM:PM, our coverage of questions to the
:00:32. > :00:34.first Minister. Carwyn Jones will be expected to be asked about topics
:00:35. > :00:39.including bank closures, climate change and the South Wales Metro. We
:00:40. > :00:43.are on Twitter way you can follow the latest from the Assembly from
:00:44. > :00:51.Welsh politics. Business has already started. We will cross to today's
:00:52. > :00:55.questions. I call the National Assembly to order and the first item
:00:56. > :00:58.on our agenda this afternoon is questions to the first Minister and
:00:59. > :01:03.the first question is from Kewell Gruffydd. What assessment has the
:01:04. > :01:10.first Minister made a bank closures in Wales? Although branch closures
:01:11. > :01:13.are a commercial matter for banks we recognise the negative impact the
:01:14. > :01:18.closures can have on local business. We welcome the weeks and review
:01:19. > :01:23.which has made recommendations to improve the way in which banks
:01:24. > :01:27.engage with communities. Thank you for that response. We know the FSB
:01:28. > :01:31.report in October demonstrated a clear impact it has on small
:01:32. > :01:35.businesses, for example, having to close earlier and losing business
:01:36. > :01:42.because they have to travel further to bank their money. The bankers
:01:43. > :01:46.Association has clearly demonstrated that learning to companies whether
:01:47. > :01:50.banks are closed has fallen substantially. You mention that in
:01:51. > :01:52.your report. Can you expand on what the Government is going to do and
:01:53. > :01:55.what discussions have you had with the banks in order to look at
:01:56. > :02:00.alternative models of retaining services in some of these places
:02:01. > :02:04.were branches have been lost? One of the things we have done is to make
:02:05. > :02:08.sure funding is available to post offices, especially in rural areas,
:02:09. > :02:13.so they can make sure that the services currently provided by banks
:02:14. > :02:20.are kept by them, for example, paying in checks, withdrawal of
:02:21. > :02:23.money, and so on. But what I would tell the banks is that it is
:02:24. > :02:31.important to make sure that where businesses do use banks at the
:02:32. > :02:34.moment in order to provide caching of takings, recalls those should be
:02:35. > :02:42.made available in future to do that in the post office or whatever is
:02:43. > :02:47.convenient for those businesses. -- cashing in takings. Branches have
:02:48. > :02:53.closed in Flint, Barclays and Holywell in NatWest has announced
:02:54. > :02:57.closures as well. I recognise the steps these banks have taken to make
:02:58. > :03:01.sure that personal customers can access their accounts within the
:03:02. > :03:07.post office but in many areas the future of the post offices are part
:03:08. > :03:10.from certain, as well. Last week I discussed this in Holywell and I can
:03:11. > :03:14.confirm people only walked out with their hair cut in the barbers. The
:03:15. > :03:18.problem created by this other bank closure and the impact on rural
:03:19. > :03:24.communities and businesses mean people have to travel further with
:03:25. > :03:28.substantial amounts of money. I'm sure you concern -- share my concern
:03:29. > :03:33.about the effect of these closures. What advice and support is available
:03:34. > :03:38.for small businesses and town centre is impacted by the closures? It
:03:39. > :03:43.comes down to making sure the post office is able to deliver the kind
:03:44. > :03:46.of services businesses would expect. The nature of banking has changed
:03:47. > :03:53.over the years. Fewer people visit banks. What is vital is people have
:03:54. > :03:58.the facility to withdraw money, to deposit cheques and cash into
:03:59. > :04:00.financial institutions and also that small businesses can deposit cash at
:04:01. > :04:06.the end of the day when businesses close. It is very important that
:04:07. > :04:09.were banks leave communities the post offices can do that. They are
:04:10. > :04:14.providing continuity of service and that is why we have provided support
:04:15. > :04:16.to post offices to make sure communities do have their post
:04:17. > :04:24.offices to deliver a wide range of services. Paul Davies. TRANSLATION:
:04:25. > :04:27.Thank you, you may be aware that some banks are proposing to close
:04:28. > :04:30.three branches in my constituency and I should declare an interest in
:04:31. > :04:37.this question as a former employee of Lloyd's. Not only are these
:04:38. > :04:42.closure is my constituency out of keeping with the numbers closing at
:04:43. > :04:45.a UK level but they are vital for many people who live around those
:04:46. > :04:51.communities and their closure would have a destructive impact. I accept
:04:52. > :04:56.that this is a commercial matter for the bank. But following on from
:04:57. > :05:00.previous questions, what specific support can be Welsh government
:05:01. > :05:05.provide to these communities? And what can be Welsh government do to
:05:06. > :05:11.assist to mitigate the negative impact these closures will have on
:05:12. > :05:14.communities? I understand Newport Fishguard and Milford Haven are
:05:15. > :05:18.going to close, or there are plans to close them. What is vitally
:05:19. > :05:22.important is those services available now through the banks are
:05:23. > :05:25.available in alternative methods and means of working through the post
:05:26. > :05:30.office will make sure those services are available there. That of course
:05:31. > :05:36.we'll make sure that those services are available for local people and
:05:37. > :05:39.also makes sure that there is work and business for the post offices to
:05:40. > :05:45.make sure they are still sustainable. But of course this is
:05:46. > :05:49.something that has not happened in rural areas in the past, namely
:05:50. > :05:53.seeing post offices closing and services being wiped out completely
:05:54. > :05:58.from the community. We do not wish to see that and we have been
:05:59. > :06:03.supporting them financially. We'll be first Minister make a statement
:06:04. > :06:09.on the section 68 of the planning and compulsory purchase act 2004? --
:06:10. > :06:15.will the first Minister. It enables a development plan if enabled by the
:06:16. > :06:19.local authority. Thank you. Last week you describe this as nonsense.
:06:20. > :06:25.Clearly, it is not. Do you accept you were wrong last week? I ask
:06:26. > :06:32.again, we support in this chamber the saving of Cardiff greenfield
:06:33. > :06:39.sites by voting button marked these are matters for Cardiff --?
:06:40. > :06:46.It is Welsh ministers that have that power. In the original legislation
:06:47. > :06:51.in 2004 the Assembly was mentioned but those powers were transferred to
:06:52. > :06:56.the executive after the act of 2006. There is no vote on the floor of
:06:57. > :06:59.this Assembly. It is a matter for a local authority to apply to revoke
:07:00. > :07:05.the local development plan and it is for ministers to consider and not
:07:06. > :07:08.the National Assembly itself. One of the problems with local development
:07:09. > :07:11.plans is local authorities are constrained by guidance issued by
:07:12. > :07:18.you and your cabinet. The big problem we have got in Denbighshire
:07:19. > :07:23.and areas I represent is there are requirements to create a lot of new
:07:24. > :07:27.housing and it is unsustainable in terms of local infrastructure. What
:07:28. > :07:31.are you doing to improve your guidance on the infrastructure which
:07:32. > :07:36.will be required to make sure there are GP services, schools, roads and
:07:37. > :07:41.other community services available to those areas of new development
:07:42. > :07:44.which will be created? The local authorities are responsible for that
:07:45. > :07:50.and tools are available. Section one enables them to look for areas to
:07:51. > :07:55.see infrastructure development, building for schools, roads, by
:07:56. > :07:58.section 106, the levy will soon be devolved, that is another way in
:07:59. > :08:03.which benefit can be drawn to a local community. It depends how
:08:04. > :08:07.clever a local authority is willing to be. It should never be the case
:08:08. > :08:11.that a major development takes place without any contribution by the
:08:12. > :08:14.developers to infrastructure and that is something we support local
:08:15. > :08:17.authorities in doing. TRANSLATION: Questions from the party leaders.
:08:18. > :08:25.Leanne Wood. Labour has led the Welsh government
:08:26. > :08:32.for 17 years. Do you take responsibility for today's piece
:08:33. > :08:34.results? We have seen some imprudence in some areas and
:08:35. > :08:44.disappointment in others. We would like the journey to continue. If you
:08:45. > :08:47.believe the PISA tests are important, you have to believe the
:08:48. > :08:50.assessment which said we are doing the right things and we are on the
:08:51. > :08:53.right journey. It is vital we continue with what we have been
:08:54. > :08:58.doing. Not my words, the words of the OECD. We cannot be complacent.
:08:59. > :09:04.Nobody can accept the situation as it is. We have seen some improvement
:09:05. > :09:09.but not enough. We had to stay on the calls we have been advised to
:09:10. > :09:14.do. That sounds pretty complacent to me. -- the course. You will not take
:09:15. > :09:17.responsibility for the results we have seen today. The Labour
:09:18. > :09:21.government has predicted improvement. We have heard it all
:09:22. > :09:25.before. Last year the education minister said a lot has happened
:09:26. > :09:30.since the disappointing 2012 test results. He also said, I would
:09:31. > :09:34.anticipate and would hope for palpable improvement. Labour has
:09:35. > :09:39.promised improvement and you have yet to deliver. First Minister, you
:09:40. > :09:46.yourself have admitted you have taken your eye from the ball when it
:09:47. > :09:51.came to education. As a result, today Welsh schools for reading are
:09:52. > :09:56.worse than a decade ago, scores for maths are worse than a decade ago,
:09:57. > :10:05.for science, worse than a decade ago. People deserve the improvement
:10:06. > :10:10.you said would happen. When will we see improvement? If you can answer
:10:11. > :10:16.that question, can you also tell us how can we believe you? Look at the
:10:17. > :10:21.GCSE results and you will see those results have greatly improved since
:10:22. > :10:25.2010. 10% in terms of getting the right grades at GCSE 's. They are
:10:26. > :10:27.encouraging. We have seen improvement in mathematics
:10:28. > :10:35.performance, disappointment with reading and signs. We are seeing the
:10:36. > :10:43.gap closing. -- science will stop we are confident the gap --. We are
:10:44. > :10:46.being provided with evidence the education system is going in the
:10:47. > :10:50.right direction. The Leader of the Opposition does not have to believe
:10:51. > :10:55.what I say but if she can accept that the PISA tests are important,
:10:56. > :10:58.and she does, she must accept the OECD who set the test are saying we
:10:59. > :11:05.are moving in the right direction and should stay on course. We should
:11:06. > :11:10.not have wild reform, or widespread reform now, but rather the direction
:11:11. > :11:14.is correct. If she has other alternatives she wants to put before
:11:15. > :11:18.the House that is a matter for her. We listen to the OECD. We see there
:11:19. > :11:24.is room for improvement but we hear what they say that we are on the
:11:25. > :11:28.right track. You were the Government, you were the ones who
:11:29. > :11:31.promised improvement. The reason I ask you about those improvements is
:11:32. > :11:38.you have got a record of moving the goalposts. You are the ones who
:11:39. > :11:42.chose to fully participate in PISA and use it as a benchmark. In
:11:43. > :11:48.October 2014 the target of reaching the top 20 in the world by 2016 was
:11:49. > :11:55.dropped. Labour brought in a new target at that point to reach the
:11:56. > :12:00.average of 500 points for reading, mathematics and science by 2021. Are
:12:01. > :12:07.you still committed to that or will you move the goalposts again? I am
:12:08. > :12:10.confident when the next result, we will see more improvement. I say
:12:11. > :12:14.that because we mentioned the GCSE and A-level results. We are seeing
:12:15. > :12:19.the first imprudence in mathematics and the gap is closing in reading
:12:20. > :12:25.and science, but not good enough. There is still work to be done. We
:12:26. > :12:29.know improvements take years and cannot been turned around in three
:12:30. > :12:33.years. Yes, of course we take responsibility. We were the garment
:12:34. > :12:37.who went into PISA in the first place and we must accept PISA is a
:12:38. > :12:44.way in which the education system of Wales will be measured. There is
:12:45. > :12:47.more work to be done. The education secretary will be outlining that in
:12:48. > :12:52.more detail when she makes her statement. We are seeing improvement
:12:53. > :12:56.in some areas but things are not as they should be and we will never be
:12:57. > :13:00.content and we will always want improvement in the system, that is
:13:01. > :13:05.entirely and exactly what we wish to see and what we will do.
:13:06. > :13:09.TRANSLATION: The Welsh Conservatives.
:13:10. > :13:15.If I can take the point on the PISA again, it was notable in your
:13:16. > :13:19.response that not one backbencher behind you went to listen to you,
:13:20. > :13:25.all were looking at their computers, rightly so. The Labour Party should
:13:26. > :13:29.be embarrassed by these results today, after 17 years of leadership
:13:30. > :13:34.of education in Wales. It is a damning indictment on your failure
:13:35. > :13:39.as first Minister and the Labour Party's ability to lead education in
:13:40. > :13:42.Wales. When you took office almost seven years ago, I think the
:13:43. > :13:48.anniversary is on Saturday, you rightly pointed out education was a
:13:49. > :13:53.cornerstone of York positioning as first Minister and you rightly point
:13:54. > :13:59.to the heritage you have of being the son of two teachers. You also
:14:00. > :14:04.pointed out education was the key to unlocking success for the Welsh
:14:05. > :14:08.economy. Why on earth has that key not turned to the benefit of pupils
:14:09. > :14:15.in Wales when you look at the PISA results today? I have already given
:14:16. > :14:20.answers and accepted there is no room for complacency and much room
:14:21. > :14:22.for improvement. When I went to school in the 1980s, the schools
:14:23. > :14:28.were awful, the buildings were awful. We had no library, it was
:14:29. > :14:31.falling apart, the buildings, the Windows were broken, they remained
:14:32. > :14:36.broken, the standard of teaching was good. We were lucky to have good
:14:37. > :14:39.teachers. That is the reality of it for those who went to a
:14:40. > :14:43.comprehensive and will remember it as it was under the Tories. Let's
:14:44. > :15:01.examine his party education policy... Lets quieting down .Mac...
:15:02. > :15:07.They are still saying that schools funding should be kept. We accept
:15:08. > :15:10.there is work to do but what we will never accept is that schools have
:15:11. > :15:19.less money which is it sadly what he advocates. For goodness sake, show
:15:20. > :15:22.some humility. Referring back to the 80s and policies, you are in
:15:23. > :15:28.government, you are the First Minister. The Labour Party have been
:15:29. > :15:32.in government since 1999. You have written of a generation, are you
:15:33. > :15:37.prepared to write off another one? It's your own Education Secretary to
:15:38. > :15:41.come to this chamber time and time again. Huw Lewis in 2013 said I
:15:42. > :15:46.expect to see the pact of our reforms reflected in the next set of
:15:47. > :15:50.results. These are the set of results we are looking at today.
:15:51. > :15:58.What has happened? What has happened in reading and science? So why can
:15:59. > :16:02.we not expect from you to show some leadership? You have new mandate. I
:16:03. > :16:07.congratulate you on that mandate. What we cannot add up with is more
:16:08. > :16:11.of the same so we write off another generation. Give us some vision. You
:16:12. > :16:20.have got the keys, and lock the door. The clanging of an empty
:16:21. > :16:26.vessel. Let me repeat to him what I said to the leader of Plaid Cymru.
:16:27. > :16:34.The OECD have said the last thing we should be doing is having wholesale
:16:35. > :16:39.change in education policy. They have said we are on the right track.
:16:40. > :16:42.What he is advocating it through everything into the air, have
:16:43. > :16:49.complete disruption, which might be justified. If the OECD said were on
:16:50. > :16:53.the track, you might be right. But they have said we are moving in the
:16:54. > :16:59.right correction, stick at it. That is exactly what we are doing. We are
:17:00. > :17:02.seeing the approved mincing maths and GCSEs and A-levels and we will
:17:03. > :17:07.continue to see it in the years to come. When you are looking at some
:17:08. > :17:12.of the changes that have gone on in other parts of the UK, I am holding
:17:13. > :17:18.you to account about the vision that you obviously do not have medication
:17:19. > :17:27.in the future. I have quoted Hugh Lewis. Somebody we do miss is
:17:28. > :17:36.Leighton Andrews and at least he had a go. He told us in 2010, honesty,
:17:37. > :17:39.leadership and a new approach to come -- to accountability was what
:17:40. > :17:44.was required. They wanted by this stage in the cycle for the Welsh
:17:45. > :17:55.Government to have got Wales into the top 20. You said you were
:17:56. > :18:01.confident you are going to hit the 500 mark next time around. We have
:18:02. > :18:06.not heard anything to give us confidence that we won't be in the
:18:07. > :18:11.same place in three years' time. Why on earth can you not give us some
:18:12. > :18:16.hard and fast can once today where we will be in three years' time when
:18:17. > :18:32.has its next set of tests so at least we can mark the scorecard
:18:33. > :18:39.then. As I say to the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, he cannot say
:18:40. > :18:46.on the one hand that the PISA tests are robust. And on the other hand
:18:47. > :18:54.say the OECD advice we've had should be ignored. He is exceeded -- he is
:18:55. > :19:00.saying exactly that. The OECD said we should continue on the track were
:19:01. > :19:13.on. I listened carefully to him and his party in terms of policies. It
:19:14. > :19:17.is uncomfortable reading, I don't deny it. It's a sign we can never be
:19:18. > :19:22.complacent. It's a sign there is work to be done although there are
:19:23. > :19:25.some signs of improvement. Not good enough, still more to do. What we
:19:26. > :19:31.will not do is panic, through everything in the air when we know
:19:32. > :19:36.that the advice we've had says we are staying on the track we are
:19:37. > :19:43.wrong. If we are prepared to disagree with the OECD and throw
:19:44. > :19:52.their advice in the bin that is a matter for him. It's not something
:19:53. > :20:01.we will do as a government. Neil Hamilton. Since last Tuesday I had
:20:02. > :20:06.the advantage of reading the government's case in the Supreme
:20:07. > :20:09.Court and apart from what it says at the beginning that the result of the
:20:10. > :20:12.referendum to leave the EU should be respect and it completely ignores
:20:13. > :20:19.the fact that the British people gave the government mandate to
:20:20. > :20:24.trigger article 50. That mandate includes 26 of the 29 seats Labour
:20:25. > :20:32.on in the election for this assembly. Although fine words at the
:20:33. > :20:34.start of this case a that the referendum result should be
:20:35. > :20:41.respected the rest of the government's case is an obstacle in
:20:42. > :20:47.the way of respecting that result. I am not a Supreme Court justice and
:20:48. > :20:55.he thank the Lord is not a lawyer so we will have to see whether his
:20:56. > :21:04.submissions are correct. I am a member of the bar as is he. It's not
:21:05. > :21:12.the first time the First Minister has displayed his ignorance in this
:21:13. > :21:21.chamber. In the last ten years the Parliament at Westminster... Allow
:21:22. > :21:25.the member to be heard, please. In the last ten years the Parliament
:21:26. > :21:31.has passed two important facts. To restrict the government's powers in
:21:32. > :21:35.respect of the prerogative in relation to European Union
:21:36. > :21:39.legislation. The 2008 European Union Amendment act and the 2011 union
:21:40. > :21:46.act. They provide the government should not take any decisions
:21:47. > :21:50.without a resolution or an act of the House of Commons or an act of
:21:51. > :21:55.Parliament or a referendum. In none of those axed as it referred to
:21:56. > :21:58.article 50. Therefore the prerogative powers of the Crown were
:21:59. > :22:05.not intended to be restricted by Parliament in this respect. The
:22:06. > :22:09.Welsh Government's attempt to frustrate the expressed a wish of
:22:10. > :22:11.the British people in a referendum with 17.5 million people voted to
:22:12. > :22:18.leave their was absolutely disgraceful. Could I tell all
:22:19. > :22:29.Cabinet secretaries that the First Minister does not need any support
:22:30. > :22:32.from cabinet members. Unless the member is registered as a practising
:22:33. > :22:42.barrister he is not a lawyer. I am not. I have not been in court since
:22:43. > :22:50.2000. We shall wait and see what the Supreme Court does but I did notice
:22:51. > :22:55.is former party leader threatened to lead a march of 100,000 people to
:22:56. > :22:58.the Supreme Court yesterday and it didn't happen. Judges should be able
:22:59. > :23:01.to make up their own minds without the Douglas pressure being applied
:23:02. > :23:05.on them by the media and politicians. This is the most
:23:06. > :23:14.important constitutional case since Charles the first. There are
:23:15. > :23:17.important issues you, not just the prerogative but in terms of what it
:23:18. > :23:22.means for the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland legislative. These
:23:23. > :23:26.are issues that must be resolved as a matter of law. It's not something
:23:27. > :23:33.that. The referendum result from happening. But it has to be done in
:23:34. > :23:37.a lawful way. I entirely agree but the Welsh Government has intervened
:23:38. > :23:45.in the court case to frustrate the wishes of the British people.
:23:46. > :23:47.Otherwise there would be no point in intervening in the case in the first
:23:48. > :23:51.place because the First Minister has said many times that Labour will
:23:52. > :23:56.respect the result of the referendum and therefore Labour MPs ought not
:23:57. > :24:01.to be whipped to vote against triggering article 50. If Labour MPs
:24:02. > :24:07.are not to vote against article 50 watts the point of the case in the
:24:08. > :24:12.first place? I am not the Leader of the Opposition at Westminster. The
:24:13. > :24:15.principle is this, we have taken the view there are issues regarding
:24:16. > :24:23.Article 50 that would affect the powers of this place. It's therefore
:24:24. > :24:26.important the situation for the people of Wales, Scotland and
:24:27. > :24:30.Northern Ireland is examined so we know what the process should be. We
:24:31. > :24:32.will not accept the situation with the prerogative will be used to
:24:33. > :24:36.reduce the powers of this assembly and that's why it's important the
:24:37. > :24:42.Supreme Court examines these issues to make sure what is done is done
:24:43. > :24:46.but is then legally. Brexit was not a vote about ignoring court saw the
:24:47. > :24:50.law. We were told it was about empowering the UK Parliament, except
:24:51. > :24:55.when it's inconvenient. Let the Supreme Court which work, let it
:24:56. > :25:01.examine these issues in detail and then we will have the answer that is
:25:02. > :25:07.needed before the process moves on. Leanne Wood. What initiatives are
:25:08. > :25:15.the Welsh Government working on two tackle climate change? We are now
:25:16. > :25:18.developing further interventions that work towards a long-term target
:25:19. > :25:25.of an 80% emissions reduction by 2050 by maximising economic and
:25:26. > :25:28.cultural benefits. Seven years ago the one Wales government laid out
:25:29. > :25:33.plans to achieve self-sufficiency with energy generation within 20
:25:34. > :25:38.years. One third of that time frame has already passed and you are still
:25:39. > :25:43.way off target, lagging way behind Scotland when it comes to generating
:25:44. > :25:47.energy from renewable sources. According to an energy trends report
:25:48. > :25:52.from September of this year Scotland generates four times more renewable
:25:53. > :25:58.energy than we do here in Wales. What has happened to your ambition
:25:59. > :26:03.on renewable energy and tackling climate change? Are you still aiming
:26:04. > :26:09.for that self-sufficiency? The Scots had an advantage which will not be
:26:10. > :26:17.there in 2018 with a control the consenting gnosis of major energy
:26:18. > :26:20.projects. In the North Sea of course the Scots have been successful in
:26:21. > :26:27.terms of developing offshore wind in a way that we have no control over.
:26:28. > :26:33.So we were not able to develop renewable energy in the way we would
:26:34. > :26:34.want to. With the new powers in 2018 that will give us the opportunity to
:26:35. > :26:53.catch up with Scotland. Jeremy Miles. The first moved to
:26:54. > :26:55.regard our capacity to generate green energy from the sea as a
:26:56. > :27:01.significant asset to tackling climate change. As we await the
:27:02. > :27:05.decision from the Westminster government on the Swansea Bay tidal
:27:06. > :27:10.lagoon and welcome the first-ever large-scale tidal energy farm off
:27:11. > :27:13.the coast, did he join me in hoping the remaining regular tree steps to
:27:14. > :27:26.be taken in Wales to proceed with the lagoon can be taken quickly?
:27:27. > :27:30.Absolutely. We are well placed to take advantage of tidal energy in
:27:31. > :27:34.particular. We know the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon could create an
:27:35. > :27:38.estimated 1900 jobs during construction and beyond. It's
:27:39. > :27:42.important the UK Government makes that step of ensuring that what
:27:43. > :27:48.would be an energy source that will last 100 years or more will come
:27:49. > :27:55.into being. It will generate energy more cheaply over 100 years but also
:27:56. > :28:00.in a clean and Greenaway. Last week it was announced that Swansea 's
:28:01. > :28:08.number 13 in a list of the UK's most congested cities. Three years ago
:28:09. > :28:14.Swansea Council installed via now system to monitor if pollution
:28:15. > :28:19.levels but it's still not ready despite the Welsh Government
:28:20. > :28:22.committing ?100,000 to that system. In aiming to tackle climate change
:28:23. > :28:26.how will you collect carbon emissions data on how will you use
:28:27. > :28:31.the data and how will you take to task any partners that rely upon to
:28:32. > :28:35.get that data if they don't come up with the goods? The data is
:28:36. > :28:53.collected via a number of organisations. We know with if
:28:54. > :28:57.traffic is idling that creates worse equality. We know Swansea has
:28:58. > :29:03.challenges in the sense it's real letter disappeared in the 1960s.
:29:04. > :29:08.There are plans moving forward now for a Swansea Bay Metro which will
:29:09. > :29:17.do much in terms of a neighbouring people to get out of their cars.
:29:18. > :29:21.With the First Minister agree that rather than spending millions of
:29:22. > :29:26.pounds on wind turbines which are said to be only around 35%
:29:27. > :29:31.efficient, and environmentally damaging and cost the poorest in the
:29:32. > :29:34.country in increased energy costs whilst incidentally putting large
:29:35. > :29:39.amounts of money into wealthy landowners pockets, it would be a
:29:40. > :29:44.better idea to spend the money on home improvements such as
:29:45. > :29:48.installation, double glazing and new boiler installation which would not
:29:49. > :29:52.only be more efficient at cutting pollution but would also positively
:29:53. > :30:06.benefit the poor in society. That was a cheap shot, I thought. It
:30:07. > :30:11.is Christmas, after all. The reality is that there is no point in simply
:30:12. > :30:15.providing people with the means to make their homes more energy
:30:16. > :30:21.efficient. Yes, it is important but not of itself. It is important we
:30:22. > :30:26.continue accessing energy reserves, have a mixture of energy, you cannot
:30:27. > :30:30.have everything done by wind power, but it has a role to play and stars
:30:31. > :30:39.in many world economies. He mentions environmental damage. -- and it
:30:40. > :30:44.does. It is done in a very environmentally damaging way and
:30:45. > :30:47.communities will have something strong to say about that. In
:30:48. > :30:52.reality, everybody would like lights to come on and we have to generate
:30:53. > :30:57.power. Wind is free, the infrastructure has to be built, the
:30:58. > :31:02.tide will always be there as long as the moon is there. It makes sense to
:31:03. > :31:06.harness this source of power, not only clean and green but in the long
:31:07. > :31:16.term, cheaper. TRANSLATION: Question four. Our community cohesion
:31:17. > :31:21.strategy was launched in 2009. It was recently updated. The delivery
:31:22. > :31:25.is supported across Wales by eight regional coordinators based in local
:31:26. > :31:30.authorities and funding will continue in 2017-18, as approved
:31:31. > :31:35.last month by Cabinet. Last week the member of Parliament said we must
:31:36. > :31:42.move away from multiculturalism and towards assimilation, we must stand
:31:43. > :31:47.for one group, the British people. Will he condemned these comments in
:31:48. > :31:51.no uncertain terms? Will he reassure the Assembly that these views do not
:31:52. > :31:56.represent Welsh government policy and will he join me in celebrating
:31:57. > :32:02.the rich diversity of this country? I did not hear the comments, if I am
:32:03. > :32:04.honest. What I can say is there has never been an occasion ever in the
:32:05. > :32:10.history of this island where there has been one culture, ever. It has
:32:11. > :32:14.always been multicultural, whether it is in terms of religion,
:32:15. > :32:22.linguistic diversity, in terms of the colour of skin. In reality they
:32:23. > :32:26.have been people with black skin on these islands since the third
:32:27. > :32:29.century. It has always been the case Britain has been multicultural and
:32:30. > :32:38.that is something to celebrate and not be afraid of. In the Welsh
:32:39. > :32:41.government cohesion delivery plan the then Minister Leslie Griffith
:32:42. > :32:45.for communities in tackling poverty stated we are moving to a new
:32:46. > :32:50.climate where cohesive communities are enshrined in the national goals
:32:51. > :32:54.for the well-being act of 2015 and will make sure of cohesion remaining
:32:55. > :32:59.at the heart of how public bodies deliver policies and services in
:33:00. > :33:04.future. Will he outline how the Welsh government currently sees the
:33:05. > :33:10.state of community cohesion in Wales and what future actions can be taken
:33:11. > :33:13.to enhance further? I refer to the answer I gave earlier in terms of
:33:14. > :33:18.the community cohesion plan and the work of the original coordinators in
:33:19. > :33:22.making sure it goes ahead. We know they have been challenges in the
:33:23. > :33:28.aftermath of Brexit. In some communities there has been an
:33:29. > :33:32.increase in hate crime. I hope it is temporary and it is not a worrying
:33:33. > :33:37.trend for the future. We know cohesive communities are happier
:33:38. > :33:40.communities. If they are not in conflict their lives are better as a
:33:41. > :33:43.result and we will continue to make sure that what we do in terms of
:33:44. > :33:48.promoting community cohesion helps raise a sense of well-being. It will
:33:49. > :33:55.fall in line as well with the future generations act. Mark Isherwood.
:33:56. > :33:57.Although the future generations Commissioner has said the aim is to
:33:58. > :34:02.make public bodies think more about the long-term work going with
:34:03. > :34:09.communities and each other and tackle issues by a more joined up
:34:10. > :34:13.approach, something also reflected in responsibilities required under
:34:14. > :34:17.the social services and well-being act, too many local authorities
:34:18. > :34:21.interpret it as a hierarchy and we decide first and then consult
:34:22. > :34:27.requirement. How will you finally therefore work with the brilliant
:34:28. > :34:32.all Wales co-production network for Wales, which is on the ground
:34:33. > :34:35.delivering projects on this basis, enabling professionals and citizens
:34:36. > :34:40.to share power and work together in equal partnership? And one of the
:34:41. > :34:46.organisations specifically has called on your government to embed
:34:47. > :34:50.the sustainable livelihood approach in all policy and service delivery
:34:51. > :34:54.in Wales and is helping people identify their own strengths in
:34:55. > :34:57.order to tackle root problems preventing them and their community
:34:58. > :35:03.from reaching their potential. It cannot be imposed. It has to grow
:35:04. > :35:10.organically from grassroots in order for it to be sustainable and robust.
:35:11. > :35:12.I would expect authorities to work in genuine partnership with
:35:13. > :35:17.organisations that have experience of delivering on the ground in order
:35:18. > :35:21.to make sure cohesion is robust within the community the local
:35:22. > :35:26.authorities server. TRANSLATION: Question five, Simon Thomas. We'll
:35:27. > :35:28.be first Minister make a statement on the cultural policy after the
:35:29. > :35:35.decision to leave the European union? -- will the first Minister.
:35:36. > :35:38.It is a vital industry and culture to Wales in terms of the food
:35:39. > :35:44.production, the economic contribution and the wider public
:35:45. > :35:46.benefit delivered. Following the Referendum, we have actively engaged
:35:47. > :35:53.with stakeholders on the vision for the future for what is a fully
:35:54. > :35:56.devolved area. Thank you, first Minister. I agree agriculture is as
:35:57. > :36:03.much a culture as it is an industry and maintained culture but it is now
:36:04. > :36:05.clear there are some who oppose devolution and they are using the
:36:06. > :36:10.opportunity the decision to leave the union of lacking through the
:36:11. > :36:20.black door the devolution process which has provided powers for
:36:21. > :36:23.agriculture and the environment and the Conservative leader in the
:36:24. > :36:27.chamber is unfortunately one of those people. Will you join with
:36:28. > :36:32.Plaid Cymru and anybody else in this chamber in a cross-party campaign
:36:33. > :36:35.with rural organisations and farming unions to make sure that no matter
:36:36. > :36:43.what happens in the wake of leaving the European Union we would not lose
:36:44. > :36:47.a single power for agriculture? I have said this from the very
:36:48. > :36:50.beginning, of course. Agriculture is devolved and it is not an
:36:51. > :36:57.opportunity to take away powers from the people of Wales. Not at all.
:36:58. > :37:03.There may be a case for considering some issues, such as animal welfare,
:37:04. > :37:08.to have a pan British policy, but only through agreement and not by
:37:09. > :37:14.Westminster imposing it and saying that you will not have any choice.
:37:15. > :37:19.What we are after is consensus and agreement, nothing else. It may be
:37:20. > :37:24.worth talking about some kind of loose framework, but it is
:37:25. > :37:27.discussion and agreement which is all-important. It is not an
:37:28. > :37:34.opportunity to take away powers from the farmers, the Government of
:37:35. > :37:37.Wales, or the Welsh people. You are no doubt aware that there are
:37:38. > :37:42.administration issues for farmers who have land straddling the Welsh
:37:43. > :37:48.and English border in terms of the basic payment scheme which each year
:37:49. > :37:52.leads to payment being delayed. European rules concerning
:37:53. > :37:58.cross-border claimants require each single payment agency, England and
:37:59. > :38:03.Wales, to have a separate agency. Do you feel as a result of the decision
:38:04. > :38:08.to leave the EU there is an opportunity to find a system which
:38:09. > :38:14.can resolve the issue, because clearly this is significant for many
:38:15. > :38:18.farmers? This would mean the Welsh government taking over for payments
:38:19. > :38:21.for farmers in England because we are far superior as a payment agency
:38:22. > :38:27.and have been for years in terms of payment, speed of payment in the
:38:28. > :38:32.last thing Welsh farmers would want is an involvement in delivering
:38:33. > :38:34.farming subsidies in Wales. We have issues in cross-border farms because
:38:35. > :38:41.the RPA have been slow in delivering data to us. There are better ways of
:38:42. > :38:44.doing things, that is true. But I think it would send chills down the
:38:45. > :38:48.spines of Milstead Welsh farmers if they felt they would have to face
:38:49. > :38:56.the same delays as colleagues in England. -- of most Welsh farmers.
:38:57. > :38:59.Will he agree that leaving the European Union gives us a great
:39:00. > :39:05.opportunity in Wales to fashion a cultural policy according to our own
:39:06. > :39:10.needs? Ukip will play a full part in helping the Welsh government to
:39:11. > :39:14.develop such a policy. It makes it all the more incompressible that the
:39:15. > :39:21.Government should be pursuing the line in the Supreme Court today that
:39:22. > :39:27.the powers of this Assembly are in some way going to be diminished. As
:39:28. > :39:32.a result of leaving we will get more power in the Assembly, not less.
:39:33. > :39:40.This is something we should look forward to and welcome, and not try
:39:41. > :39:43.and frustrate and prevent. He is ploughing his own furrow on that, to
:39:44. > :39:46.use a term he would be familiar with, whether he is speaking as a
:39:47. > :39:51.proxy to the UK government, only he will know. He says he thinks it is
:39:52. > :39:54.an opportunity to remove power from the people of Wales and the Welsh
:39:55. > :40:01.government, a view not shared by the farming unions, so he is hoisted by
:40:02. > :40:05.his own petard in that regard. The one issue farmers have correctly
:40:06. > :40:08.identified this morning is we need to get access to the single market
:40:09. > :40:11.absolutely right. They know how much of a disaster it would be if they
:40:12. > :40:16.cannot sell on that market on the same terms. When it comes to free
:40:17. > :40:19.trade agreement agriculture is almost always omitted, that is the
:40:20. > :40:24.difficulty. Countries are protective of their agriculture. We know the
:40:25. > :40:29.rules if they were imposed on agriculture would mean a 70% tariff
:40:30. > :40:35.on Welsh land going into Europe. Welsh farming cannot withstand that
:40:36. > :40:40.tariff. I take him at his word that I have to say that what is vital,
:40:41. > :40:49.two things for Welsh farming, certainty over subsidy after 2020
:40:50. > :40:53.and a fair division of money, not a Barnett Formula share, or we would
:40:54. > :41:00.be 70% down from now, and an ability to share in the major market, the
:41:01. > :41:03.European Union. Any kind of barrier if Welsh farmers face that in terms
:41:04. > :41:08.of selling to Europe would be, and I choose my word deliberately,
:41:09. > :41:13.disastrous for Welsh farming which is why access to the single market
:41:14. > :41:17.has to be the defining principle for any UK government in negotiating
:41:18. > :41:23.with the EU. TRANSLATION: Question six, Gareth Bennett. Wilby first
:41:24. > :41:29.Minister provide an update on funding for the south wales metro?
:41:30. > :41:34.Phase two has been estimated at 734 million. The final cost will be in
:41:35. > :41:37.the procurement negotiation and that is dependent on funding from the
:41:38. > :41:43.development fund which we expect the UK government to honour in terms of
:41:44. > :41:48.providing this funding. Thank you. I am glad he refer to the pledge by
:41:49. > :41:54.the UK government to match the funding. Paul Maynard, the UK
:41:55. > :41:59.transport Minister specifically advised of the Welsh government to
:42:00. > :42:03.apply for the funding. Would you agree that the Brexit vote is not
:42:04. > :42:08.necessarily any impediment to going ahead with the Metro project? Not to
:42:09. > :42:12.going ahead with it but in terms of scope, it will potentially reduce
:42:13. > :42:17.the scope. If the funding is not made up by the UK government,
:42:18. > :42:20.clearly the Metro cannot go ahead at the same speed and in terms of the
:42:21. > :42:27.same ambition it otherwise would have done. Yes, if there is a ?125
:42:28. > :42:31.million gap in the UK garment has to make it up, otherwise it cannot be
:42:32. > :42:36.as we would want. But clearly it can move forward but not in quite the
:42:37. > :42:43.way we would have wanted. TRANSLATION: Question seven. Will
:42:44. > :42:47.the first Minister provide an update on ambulance performance in South
:42:48. > :42:51.Wales? Since the introduction of the clinical pilot it has been extremely
:42:52. > :42:55.positive, exceeding the target in every month of the first year, the
:42:56. > :43:01.national target, in every month in the first year. That is extremely
:43:02. > :43:04.positive and I welcome that news. It is vitally important to my
:43:05. > :43:09.constituency, because the response time for those that are with life
:43:10. > :43:14.threatening issues makes it clearly a major difference to their lives
:43:15. > :43:18.and also their families, knowing they have that reassurance that an
:43:19. > :43:24.ambulance will be on a red call and we'll be there in time. But it is
:43:25. > :43:28.noticeable however that we have this ongoing problem in England, Wales
:43:29. > :43:35.and Northern Ireland with a wasted time of ambulance at a and E units.
:43:36. > :43:38.It has been long and injuring. Freedom of information requests
:43:39. > :43:43.suggested over 500,000 hours within the UK were wasted. These ambulances
:43:44. > :43:49.could be out doing the good work they need to do very efficiently.
:43:50. > :43:51.What can he say in terms of how we address this issue, not only now
:43:52. > :43:56.with winter pressures coming on top of us, but in years to come, as
:43:57. > :44:02.well? Tremendous inroads we have done into red call response times
:44:03. > :44:06.but how do we deal with wasted hours sitting outside accident and
:44:07. > :44:10.emergency? It is not only a Wales issue. How do we do this across
:44:11. > :44:13.other nations, as well? We need to make sure people are properly
:44:14. > :44:17.assessed when they arrive in terms of where they go for treatment.
:44:18. > :44:23.Making sure and villains is able to get away as possible and that means
:44:24. > :44:33.focusing on accident and emergency centres. -- making sure ambulances
:44:34. > :44:39.are able to get away. We know it provides a better outcome. I would
:44:40. > :44:42.say we see the improvement in terms of ambulance waiting times in
:44:43. > :44:47.accident and emergency through the response times to the most life
:44:48. > :44:51.threatening calls. The fact that more and more of them are being got
:44:52. > :44:56.to within the time allocated is a sign they are getting their more
:44:57. > :45:00.quickly. As a general rule. Yes, there will be pressures now and
:45:01. > :45:04.again on some dates where there are a larger number of people than
:45:05. > :45:06.expected coming through. But if we look at the most immediate
:45:07. > :45:15.life-threatening calls, the response time in Northern Ireland, 51.2%,
:45:16. > :45:19.England, about 65%, Scotland 66.4%, Wales, 79%. It is a tribute to the
:45:20. > :45:27.Welsh paramedics and ambulance trust. TRANSLATION: Will the
:45:28. > :45:32.Minister make a statement on what the Welsh government is doing to
:45:33. > :45:35.support farmers in Pembrokeshire? We are working to support the industry
:45:36. > :45:40.in Pembrokeshire has in all parts of Wales to make sure the industry can
:45:41. > :45:46.become more profitable, sustainable and resilient. Farmers in
:45:47. > :45:50.Pembrokeshire are very concerned about your government proposals to
:45:51. > :45:56.introduce nitrate vulnerable zones in Wales, because this will be
:45:57. > :46:02.challenging for farmers to comply with new regulations which are
:46:03. > :46:05.proposed in consultation. Considering your comments in the
:46:06. > :46:08.summer that it is up to the Welsh governance to decide which laws
:46:09. > :46:16.should be kept and should not be kept at the UK decision to leave the
:46:17. > :46:19.EU, can you explain why the Welsh government has proceeded with this
:46:20. > :46:23.consultation to introduce nitrate vulnerable zones, which is as a
:46:24. > :46:29.result of a European directive, because the introduction of such
:46:30. > :46:37.regulations will certainly leave farmers in my constituency at a huge
:46:38. > :46:42.disadvantage? Nitrates are a problem in many parts of Wales and we have
:46:43. > :46:46.to deal with it because the negative impact has on the environment. The
:46:47. > :46:56.consultation is open until Christmas. But a meeting was held
:46:57. > :47:00.between officials and also representatives of the farming
:47:01. > :47:04.unions and farmers in October to deal with these issues and it was a
:47:05. > :47:10.very positive meeting. The farmers themselves wanted to make sure that
:47:11. > :47:14.we consider ways of ensuring fewer nitrates go into the water system
:47:15. > :47:21.and they wanted to collaborate with each other and the Government to
:47:22. > :47:23.make sure that was the case. A statement on the additional capital
:47:24. > :47:28.money the Welsh government will receive after the announcement by
:47:29. > :47:32.the UK government audit statement? It is about the 442 million
:47:33. > :47:38.additional capital. It will still be 21% lower in 2019-20 compared to
:47:39. > :47:44.2009-10. The Welsh government has done its best to protect services in
:47:45. > :47:46.the face of Tory cuts from Westminster but continued austerity
:47:47. > :47:52.has meant difficult choices have had to be made. There has been a
:47:53. > :47:56.significant budget reduction in community facilities and activity
:47:57. > :48:01.programmes. I know many community groups find this an invaluable
:48:02. > :48:05.source of funding and young people in my constituency do a sterling job
:48:06. > :48:09.and have recently submitted a proposal only to find the future of
:48:10. > :48:14.the prop -- programme is in doubt. In the light of the additional
:48:15. > :48:18.monies, will you discuss this with Cabinet to make sure we can try and
:48:19. > :48:24.continue this invaluable lifeline for community groups in Wales? I
:48:25. > :48:30.thank my colleague for that question. There are many things we
:48:31. > :48:36.consider as a government in terms of allocating new monies. In terms of
:48:37. > :48:39.the programme, there has not been an evaluation yet and it is quite early
:48:40. > :48:43.in the life of the programme, but visits have been carried out and
:48:44. > :48:46.indicate the facilities are well used and sustainable into the
:48:47. > :48:52.future. They are difficult choices as to what we do with future
:48:53. > :48:57.finance. I think it is probably fair to say that only the very best
:48:58. > :49:00.applications can expect to attract funding in the future and we will
:49:01. > :49:04.see what can be made available in the course of discussions we have in
:49:05. > :49:10.terms of dealing with any extra resources we get from the UK
:49:11. > :49:13.government. STUDIO: That was first minister's questions. For more
:49:14. > :49:22.coverage, you can go online to BBC Wales. The live pages on BBC .co
:49:23. > :49:26..uk. For all the latest political news, watch Wales Today later at
:49:27. > :49:29.half six on BBC One and we will be back at nine o'clock. From all of us
:49:30. > :49:33.here, thank you for watching, goodbye.